What is a Skyscraper?

What is a Skyscraper?

TALL buildings are becoming ever more prevalent in our cities, as demand for space in densely populated urban areas increases and as engineering capabilities develop.

The terms “tall”, “high-rise” and “skyscraper” are often used interchangeably when describing structures that are notable for their height - but there
is in fact a difference between buildings which are tall and true “skyscrapers”.

Here we explain the terminology.

TALL BUILDINGS

There is no clear definition on what constitutes a “tall building” and it is to some extent subjective.

A 10-storey structure that is the tallest building in regional town or low rise city for example, would easily become lost if it were placed in Hong Kong
or Chicago.

Above and Below: A tall building in one city might not be considered tall in another.

Many groups class 50 metres (165 feet) as the threshold for a tall building, but this is by no means a widely accepted rule.

In reality the term “tall building” is commonly used in our everyday language to describe any structure that rises to a significant or noticeable height.

SKYSCRAPERS

To qualify as a true “skyscraper”, a structure must be self-supporting and not require tension cables or supports in order to remain standing.

In addition, habitable floor space must occupy at least 50% of the structure’s total height.

Above: Though they are often the tallest structures in a city, communication and observation towers aren't typically classed as skyscrapers.

As a result, communication and observation towers - such as Tokyo’s Skytree or Berlin’s Fernsehturm - are not considered to be skyscrapers.

Finally “skyscrapers” must rise to a minimum height of 150 metres (492 feet).

Above: 150m is widely accepted as the height at which a building is to be considered a skyscraper. Below: Miami's
One Thousand Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (image courtesy of Phillip Pessar).

While this used to be an exclusive club, there are now countless buildings around the world that fall into the skyscraper definition, and as engineering
and construction techniques have continued to develop, humankind has pushed the limits of building at height.

Above: Currently under construction, the Jeddah Tower will become the world's tallest building at over 1km in height once completed
( image courtesy of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture).

Further structures are of course set to enter this bracket in the years ahead - with the most notable development at present being the
Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, a megatall structure that is on course to break the 1 kilometre mark and become the world’s tallest building.